Mitigative Potential of Vernonia amygdalina and Persea americana on Blood Pressure and Urinary Protein in a Rat Model of Preeclampsia

Background: Preeclampsia is a pregnancy-specific hypertensive disorder characterized by elevated blood pressure and proteinuria, often leading to maternal and fetal complications. The search for natural alternatives in its management has led to the evaluation of medicinal plants such as Vernonia amygdalina (bitter leaf) and Persea americana (avocado). This study aimed to assess the mitigative potential of Vernonia amygdalina leaves and Persea americana leaves and seeds on blood pressure and urinary protein in a lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced rat model of preeclampsia. Materials and Methods: Fifty-four pregnant albino rats were grouped into nine experimental arms (n = 6 per group) and induced with preeclampsia using intraperitoneal injections of 0.1 mL LPS at gestational days 13–14. Treatments were administered for seven days using extracts of V. amygdalina (100 and 200 mg/kg), P. americana leaf and seed (100 and 200 mg/kg), and Aldoxi (0.036 mg/kg) which is a standard drug. Blood pressure readings and urinalysis for proteinuria were taken before and during induction/treatment. Data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA and Tukey’s post hoc test, with statistical significance set at p ≤ 0.05. Blood pressure, ECG (CODA rat tail cuff system, Kent Scientific) and urinalysis (Dipstick method using metabolic cage) were carried out during/after pregnancy in Cardio Renal unit laboratory, Department of Veterinary Physiology and Biochemistry, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Ibadan, Oyo state. Results: Prior to inducement, all groups exhibited normal systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and negative proteinuria. Post-inducement results showed significant (p = 0.03) increases in systolic (149 mmHg), diastolic (105 mmHg), and mean arterial pressure (120 mmHg) in the negative control (Group B), along with proteinuria. However, all treatment groups demonstrated normalized blood pressure parameters and absence of urinary protein. Rats treated with both V. amygdalina and P. americana extracts showed physiological and behavioral stability comparable to the standard drug-treated group. Conclusion: The extracts of V. amygdalina and P. americana (leaf and seed) exhibited promising antihypertensive and anti-proteinuric properties in the LPS-induced preeclampsia rat model. These findings suggest their potential role in the management of preeclampsia and warrant further investigation.